The End?

Life is pretty hectic right now--the blog team just might take a few months off on break...


Thank you so much, God, for truly blessing me--fill me over with the Joy of Your Salvation!

Hope you have enjoyed reading!
In Christ,
Anna
*If you'd like to keep up with me, I'll be (probably frequently) posting my artwork here, my thoughts here, and hopefully our moving adventure here. Blessings!

Royal Wedding: Prince William and Catherine

Sarah reminded me that today was the Prince William and Catherine Middleton's wedding.
I was eager to see what Kate Middleton's bridal gown would look like and found myself pulled into the Royal Wedding vacuum. It was so beautiful to watch--the dresses, the ceremony, the exchange of vows, and the priestly blessing were all so elegant and perfect.
Watch the Royal Wedding Live!
The Royal Wedding Page
William and Catherine become Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Earl and Countess of Strathearn, and Baron and Baroness Carrickfergus
'First Kiss' on Balcony of Buckingham Palace
Royal Wedding Hats
Duchess Catherine's Dress:

"Workers washed their hands every 30 minutes to keep the lace and threads pristine, and the needles were renewed every three hours, to keep them sharp and clean."

It was a Fairy Tale Wedding...like stepping between the pages of the Cinderella in the Brother's Grimm.
But it made me so excited...
For the wonderful gift of salvation He has given me:

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."~61:10

I also thought it interesting that Kate Middleton is not nobility, yet she married Prince William and can be Queen Catherine the Sixth.
It reminded me that, although I am not of royal blood, the Son has chosen me for his Bride and His Father has adopted me as an heir to his eternal blessings.
What a blessing it is to be called an heir and child of God:

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."~Galatians 4:4-7

If I could not hold a pen I would write of You on my heart instead You have bought me with Your blood And I am painted red by Your love

Until You found me,
I was all alone;
My soul was black and cold,
But You loved my heart of stone.

Now Sonshine showers me

From Your storehouse above...
And You wash my heart red
With Your raindrops of Love.

poem/pictures: "Sonshine and Lovedrops" by me
post title: JJ Heller, "Painted Red"

Who the Son Sets Free is Free Indeed!

I was going through my notes in my iPod and I found these notes from last year at the Paul Tripp conference I attended with my parents. It was very powerful and Mr. Tripp is such a good speaker. So I thought I'd share the notes (stuff he really said, only I'm not fast enough to get all of it):

The Battle Against Sin

"We're putting our trust in things that will fail us. God is in the middle of my troubles. Through every circumstance God is working to change me. He needs to be the thing that makes your life worth living just because you've come to know him. Our lives are shaped by a war between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of self. The DNA of sin is selfishness. It makes life all about me. I'm not in the battle by myself. The purpose of the cross is to liberate me from myself. My greatest danger in life is myself. You live in little moments. God's power in us should live in the little moments."

The Power of Words

"What's the quest behind your words? What do you really want your words to accomplish? Let no corrupting or unwholesome talk come out of your mouths but only that which benefits other persons with the grace of God. God wants us to be an instrument of grace to others. What a radically different way to talk when we talk to say what God wants us to say instead of what we want to say. Some people say 'I didn't mean that.' But, if it's not in your heart, it won't come out of your mouth. Consider the need of the person you are talking to. Are the people in your life actually graced by your words? If you're living for the bigger kingdom it will change the way you talk."

Worldly or Heavenly Treasure

"Everyone lives for some kind of treasure. The thing that is your treasure will control your heart. What controls your heart will control your behavior. Life will never be found in the assemblage of worldly treasures. Earthly things or beings do not have the capacity to satisfy the desire of your heart. It's wrong to by ruled by the things of the earth. We are living way beyond our means. We try to squeeze the kingdom of God into the extra spaces in our schedules that are driven by the treasures of the earth. We try to squeeze hundred dollar conversations into dying moments. Be willing to live on smaller portions so that you can live for God. What value system is driving your schedule?"

Thoughts that have been tumbling about in my mind:
We owe so much to God. And we can't repay any of it. But we are obligated to commit our lives to doing good in Christ's name. We have no excuse not to--we have been freed from the laws of sin and death and this world has no hold on us. We are now slaves to righteousness and therefore should serve God with everything He has given us.

I hope these notes will help you grow in your relationship with God and serve Him even better.

Spring in Virginia

cherryblossoms

It's not yet Spring here in Colorado. We're still catching up on the cold weather and snow-showers that December forgot to have. But in Virginia, everything is starting to bud and bloom.

bridalwreath

We had a wonderful week there--visiting relatives, having a birthday party, taking graduation pictures, and just relaxing from the stress life brings.

our neighbor's flock had three newborns this spring--they were so sweet!

waiting in the Detroit Airport--it's ginormous and the intercom blared out in English, Chinese, and another Asian language

Our five year old cousin loves to draw and color. She drew a few pictures for Sarah and me.

the forsithia was in bloom--it was gorgeous!

my Aunt made these cute cupcakes and a beautiful cake for my birthday

blue blooms at my grandmother's house

An old blue bike one of my great uncles left leaning against Pawpaw's old shop.

Mr. and Mrs. White Duck and their brown friend (not pictured ;) were the only ones out and about on the pond at Emory & Henry (where I hope to finish college after Highlands Community College)

I'm already missing the cabin...but we'll be living there soon.
I hope I can enjoy the rest of my time here with all contentment, like Paul says in Philippians 4:11,

"...for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content."

Have a relaxed, blessed weekend!

A week of time away...

Last year this time, life was a lot different. We were heading out for Spring Break in Tucson and had a lovely time there.
I was so thrilled about the Butterfly Garden we visited--butterflies are my favorite flying creature.
We're leaving tomorrow for Virginia. I'm so excited, I know I won't get any sleep tonight. We're taking a plane to South Carolina and then driving the rest of the way...home.
We're moving to Virginia in June and I'm really happy to be living so close to relatives. Both my mom and dad are from the same town (the one Daddy's retiring in) and all except a small few of my extended relations live there. It will be quite a change for me--going from City Girl to Country Girl, Military Brat to Civilian. I think I'll like it, though. My mom's concerned that I'll be disappointed with Country life and long for groups of friends and large shopping centers. And I probably will...
But God knows best. He's so good to me. He planned, even before Grandaddy's birth in 1910, to have my Great-Grandfather live for 91 years and die two days ago. And have the funeral coincide with our Spring Break trip.
My Dad grew up on Grandaddy's Milk Farm and was very close to both his Grandmother (who passed away last year) and Grandaddy. Both of my parents always remarked how delicious Grandmother's apple pie was. Daddy did a lot with his Grandpa and says he can still remember going to see his first movie with him. I'm so thankful my Jesus kept my Great-Grandparents alive so long. I have wonderful memories about them and feel so lucky to have known them. I will miss going to Grandmother and Grandaddy's house after it is sold.
But God knows best.
It's so wonderful to have an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving God.
Have a lovely break, if you are taking one.
Hopefully I'll have plenty of pictures of Springtime in the Country to share next week when I return.

Sacrificing...

Yes, we ate pancakes (waffles, actually) on Shrove Tuesday.
No, I didn't wear the ashes of remembrance. But I did see a boy at school with the black print of coal on his forehead.

And I prayed and prayed about what I was going to do for Lent (if I am doing it, that is) and I decided that yes, I might be doing it...or not.
Either way, you'll never know.
And it won't matter because I'm working out my salvation through fear and trembling just as you are working yours.
And though we're all working in different ways, most of us are working toward that same goal of holiness.

I hope you enjoy reading these two posts as much as I did:

• A Sojourner Rests: Forty days and forty nights
• Russell Moore: On Mardi Gras

Last of all, I have a question for you:
Paul says in Romans 9:3, “For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”

(Since Lent is about giving something up) Would you give your salvation up so that someone else could be saved?

I thought about this last night, telling God I was so sorry—sorry that not everyone is or will be saved…sorry that I am so selfish and wouldn’t be willing to do so.

Can you even imagine what life would be life without God? I can’t—I can’t remember a time when He wasn’t there for me. One moment without Him would be Hell. That’s what Hell is—life without God.

So, think about it. Really think about what Paul said.

Would you wish yourself cut off from the life-giver, from the reason for the world, from your every breath, for the sake of your brothers?

‘til next week, friends,

Anna

Please remember to pray for our brothers and sisters in Japan, Hawaii, and the Pacific Coast who are preparing for and suffering the evils of a tsunami.

When Jesus Is All You Have...

Is Jesus all you have? Of course He is.
He even once said to us,

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." ~Matthew 24:35

Have you heard the story of Corrie Ten Boom? If you haven't, read it here.


She once said, "You may never know that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have." How true!
Please take 3 or 4 minutes to hear Joni Eareckson Tada speak about what these words mean to her and what they can mean for you. Click here to listen.


Why ask for anything else, but that one thing?

"One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple."~Psalm 27:4

I'm glad He's all I have...because He's all I need.

All there...

Jim Elliot once said, "Wherever you are, be all there."
So, where are you?
Are you all there? Are you only/entirely/wholly there?
It's easy to give an appearance of being all in a situation without really giving up anything. i.e. being in a relationship with God and still having other idols alongside Him. I find that I often set up pedestals and raise them next to God without even realizing it. (I only recognize them when God takes them away.)
So, again, are you all there? In that situation where you feel like you want to run away? Or in that moment when you could be ministering and don't feel like it?
I know I'm not...
I read a great post at "A Sojourner Rests" yesterday and wanted to share it with you,

"When we first moved to the desert I was amazed at so many things I had never seen before. As a homeschool family we did unit studies on the Sonoran, Mojave, Chihuahuan, and the Great Basin deserts of North America.... and my amazement grew.
I am not sure the children enjoyed all of our field trips and studies but we learned names of cacti, trees and animal life that we had never encountered before.
It was all new to us and we got excited the first time we saw mirages, saguaro cactus, a scorpion or a road runner and marveled at how anything could live in the hot, dry, arid climate.

Then we began to learn other things that weren't so fun and interesting."
click here to read the rest

So, how are you going to be all there this day? This hour? This minute?

A Complaint Free World...

Now wouldn't that be nice?
Apparently, some people consider it possible!
My mom bought this book about the church* that created the challenge.
So here's the deal:

1. Either buy one of the complaint free world bracelets or use one you already have. Let me warn you: pick something that's easy to get on and off--you're going to be doing a lot of that if you're anything like me.
2. Be constantly aware of your complaining.
3. Every time you catch yourself complaining, switch the bracelet to the other hand.
4. If you catch someone else complaining, switch your bracelet to your other hand. (you just complained about someone else complaining)

Good luck--strive to honor the words spoken through God's servant:

“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.” Philippians 2:14-16

*Although the church is of Unitarian Denomination, I think the idea is brilliant!

The Beauty of the Bible...

I've recently been reading as the Spirit leads me...or trying to. It's hard to fall out of a reading program because I'm so fond of schedules. This morning, I read Psalms 40.
When I reached the end, I thought, "I need to share this on the blog today!" Then I reconsidered. "But it's just a Psalm," I thought, "Nobody will want to read it."
But I still felt like I should post it.
I felt ashamed that I would think that I should share a special blog post that I had written and would blow your mind with the revelation of it...
I think too often we get caught up in words of our own when we should be consumed by the Word of God.
And I have to ask myself, "How often do I sit in awe of the fact that the God of Eternity used humble human hands to write letters of love to me?"
There shouldn't be anything that captures my heart or my love more than the beauty of His Words:

"To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth--Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord. Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered. Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, "Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart." I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness In the great assembly; Indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O Lord, You Yourself know. I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth From the great assembly. Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord; Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me."

What is your 'One Thing'?

A few days ago, my mom and I were listening to Francis Chan’s talk on the Desiring God conference. We are both big fans of his speaking and love his books. This time, he was speaking about prayer. He talk was on Prayer as a Way of Walking in Love, A Personal Journey. When he spoke of prayer, it hurt my heart. I longed for and greatly desired to have a relationship with God like he does.

It’s not that I don’t love God…I just feel like I’ve become numb over the past few years.

When I was little, I would jump at the chance to pray for anything. My dad called me a little “Prayer Warrior.” I loved praying to God and I thought that prayer must have been my Spiritual Gift.

Over the past few years, I’ve become awkward when I pray. I stumble and feel embarrassed when I’m done. I don’t feel eager to pray; I avoid it at all costs. The only time I don’t feel this way is when I am alone. I can pray to God then, when there’s nobody around to hear me except Him. But I’ve found that prayer for me has not been a walk of love, but a walk of requests and thanksgiving.

Mr. Chan opened my eyes to my sins—I haven’t been walking with God in love. I can’t imagine if I only went to my Dad just to ask for something or gave him brief thanks for something he’d given me. Our relationship has been built on spending time with one another.

That’s how it should be with God. I’ve found that the way love speaks to me the most is through time and gifts. In my relationship with God, that should mean giving up my time to read the Bible and speak to God, sacrifice idols in my life, offer praises sweet as incense to Him.

Mr. Chan spoke of times when God had answered his prayers. Sometimes the prayers were crazy—like the time he went golfing with his friends. They all had new drivers and he had an old, used one. On his drive home, he prayed to God, telling Him about how he felt about the drivers and how he wanted a new one, but felt selfish for doing so. The next day, Mr. Chan went to speak at a church and they told him, “We’ve heard that you don’t accept honorariums, so we wanted to give you this driver instead.” Isn’t that crazy?

In the end, he said he’d been “camping out” on this verse from Psalms 27:

“One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.”

He said he was trying to have this as the one thing he desired for a week.

I always jump at the opportunity to do something proactive. So, I tried his challenge.

Let me warn you: it’s really hard.

But it’s brought me to realize that my God hasn’t been the God that I actively love and actively loves me. He’s been the background God—a dead God that did something that changed my life a long time ago, but isn’t important enough to be my friend.

Now let me ask you, “What is your one thing? What is the one thing that you desire, the one thing that you seek? Is there room in your life to give up asking for other things—at least for a week—and seek after this one, beautiful thing?”